Automatic dispenser for drinking straws



Aug. 5, 1958 E. KUMPF 2,846,117

AUTOMATIC DISPENSER FOR DRINKING STRAWS Filed Aug. 1 1955 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. 8 sum. KUMPF.

Ema/gm ATTORNEY.

Aug. 5, 1958 KUMPF 2,846,117

\ AUTOMATIC DISPENSER FOR DRINKING STRAWS Filed Aug. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. EMIL KUMPF ATTOR AUTOMATIC DESPENSER FDR DRINKING STRAWS Emil Kumpf, Baltimore, Md. Application August 1, 1955, Serial No. 525,560

2 Claims. (Cl. 221-196) This invention relates to dispensers of straws commonly called soda straws and more particularly to those designed to facilitate their delivery directly into bottles.

There have been developed several types of straw dispensers, all operable by a mechanical device designed to eject them and especially intended for delivering straws to a shelf of some kind. From this shelf the user lifts the straw olT with his fingers and uses it for the drink to be taken by the individual. The great objection to them is that they require handling and then manipulation to get them into the container in which the liquid is held. In this invention the dispenser is constructed with the mechanism required for removing a single straw at a time, from a magazine holding a large quantity of straws, and in addition includes a mechanical trip mechanism that enables the straw to be deposited directly into the container of the liquid, ready for use. The straw is not handled at all by the user during the procedure.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved straw dispenser that will avoid one or more, of the objections and disadvantages of the previous art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved straw dispenser that can deliver the straw to the container containing a beverage without the user contacting it by hand during the procedure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved straw dispenser adapted for holding a large quantity of straws, and then by the manipulation of the bottle containing the beverage to be consumed by an individual, operate a mechanism that will selectively deliver a straw to the bottle directly Without contact with the hands of the user.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved dispenser that will have features that make it more sanitary than other types of dispensers, and at the same time be simple in design and construction, that may be produced economically, and perform its duties effectively, with desirable speed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a new and improved straw dispenser that will include a mechanism for diverting an ejected straw directly into the container whose contents a user is about to imbibe.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as it is more fully described.

For a better understanding of the invention, its objects, principles and operation, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein a particular form is indicated. These drawings in conjunction with the following description, illustrate the preferred type of straw dispenser that provides the convenience and security that is desirable and obtainable with it.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a straw dispenser embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken longitudinally on line 2-2 of Figure l, with cover partly open;

2,8419% 17 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3-3 of Figure 2, cover closed;

Figure 4 is a detail of the chute structure and surrounding housing; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the trigger mechanism used in this embodiment.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction of the dispenser indicated in the drawings, a rectangular shaped housing 10 is made wider than the length of the straws 11 to be dispensed by it. Its width depends on the amount of interior space required for the facile storing of the straws; and the various mechanisms as well as the travel distance necessary for their operation. It has a chamber that is enclosed by the walls of the housing and divided into upper and lower compartments 20 and 31) respectively. The upper compartment 20 is partitioned by a pair of downwardly converging plates 13 disposed longitudinally across it. A slot-like opening 14 is left where the plates 13 are closest and is large enough to allow a single straw to drop through it longitudinally one at a time. The plates 13 serve to provide a magazine 15 for straws piled on each other in the form of an inverted prism, converging to the opening 14. Normally the opening 14 is closed by a sliding carriage 16 running in channels 17 transversely and horizontally across the chamber below the magazine 15. It consists of a plate having a slide valve movement when in its normal position, the carriage closes the opening 19 in plate 12 and prevents any straw 11 from passing through. When the carriage is slid over in the channels, it carries the straw from the opening 14 as it falls into the pocket 18, along in a horizontal stroke to a discharge outlet 19, provided in the under plate 12.

When the straw falls through the outlet 19, it passes to a chute structure 21 guided by its walls 22 towards its lower end portion 27 which is formed like a valley, and then into the mouth of a beverage bottle 40, placed there and aligned to receive it. Since the straw 11 is tilted from a horizontal position, held in the magazine to an angle of about 45, it is necessary to guide and gyrate it during the process, by having its angularly disposed and converging walls 22 constructed and located to facilitate this movement.

The chute structure 21 is made slightly movable in a lateral direction by being suspended on a shaft 23 journalled in the walls of the housing. The chute oscillates on this shaft but its movement is limited by the restrictive position of the walls and floor and a screw adjustment 37. The bottom portion 24 is made spoon shaped to facilitate its engagement with the neck of the bottle 40 pushed against it, and align the ejected straw in its mouth. The spoon 24 aligns with the doorway 25 provided in the front wall of the housing'10, and can be manipulated from this point. The movement and pressure exerted by the chute 21 induces the carriage 14 to travel horizontally from the opening 14 to the discharge outlet 19 by means of a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism consists of a rotatable drum 26 supported in suitable bearings attached to the walls of the housing. The drum 26 acts like a bell crank with impulse arm 28 extending out radially and engaging in an open slot 29 in the carriage 16 which it reciprocates as it moves through its arcuate stroke. The screw 37 extends at an angle and limits the arc of rotation of the chute 21. The carriage will be stopped when its pocket 18 is aligned with the discharge outlet 19. Another arm 32 formed into a hook extends from the drum to engage with a coil spring 33 and be tensioned by it. The spring 33 tends to keep the carriage pulled back with the pocket 18 aligned with ad the opening 14 so the next incoming straw can fall into place when the pocket is empty. The magazine 15 is filled with horizontally disposed straws 11, by lifting the hinged lid 34 at the top of the housing and pouring them into horizontal pile up on one another. e v

The pressure of a bottle neck against the spoon 24 of the chute 21 swings the latter through a short arc, and in turn causes a cam-like member 35 fastened to its wall to press on an extending arm 31 and rotate the drum 26. The drum rotates through an are sufficiently to make its impulse arm 28 propel the carriage 16 towards the outlet 19, for discharging the straw from its pocket 18. The straw 11 passes from the pocket into the chute 21 dipping longitudinally through an arc of about 45 to present and tilt one of its ends in the direction of the mouth of the bottle, which it slides down into. In order to facilitate the arcuate movement of the straw as it leaves the pocket, and tilt it to the right position, the apexed end of the chute trips it. The chute is so placed that it temporarily intercepts oneend of the straw while the other end portion continues to pitch downwardly (under the action of gravity) to the valley 27 of the chute and towards the mouth of the bottle. The cam like member 35, is provided with a slanting contact surface and the arm 31, has ar-otatable sleeve on it. The member 35 contacts the arm and the latter is forced down as it slides against it. This rotates the drum and operates its impulse arms.

When the bottle 40 is removed, the straw 11 sticks up in it, ready to be used by an individual for drinking its contents. At the same time, the coil spring 33 of the trigger mechanism pulls on the hook 32 of the drum 26 back to its normal position. This moves the impulse arm 28 backwardly, in the slot 29, which in turn slides the carriage 16 rearward, so its pocket 18 is again aligned with the opening 14 to receive the next straw 11, from the magazine 15. The adjustment screw 37 coming into contact with the spoon 24 holds the carriage properly located. As the drum 26 is revolved, under the tension of spring 33, its arm 31 on its periphery, pulls the chute structure 21 back to its normal position. Figure indicates the general movement of the drum. Figure 2 illustrates in general, the manner in which the straw falls from the outlet 19 into the chute 21 and the way the walls 22 guide it.

The features that characterize the dispenser are particularly important because they emphasize its sanitary provisions. While the straws 11 may or may not be sterilized just before use ordinarily, they can be made partly so, by treating the interior of the magazine and chute to a suitable sterilizing process, from time to time, after the straws are loaded into it. The straws 11 after being placed in the magazine are untouched by hand from that time on, until each is dispensed into the container adapted to receive it. In drinking from the container, held by the user, he applies his lips to the straw and imbibes directly, without needing any guidance or assistance by any other part of his body. Thus the germs believed to be on the hands of the user are not allowed to reach the straw. Another item of importance, is in the fact that no extraneous power is needed to operate the dispenser. The user himself, supplies all the energy required to operate the device and does so, so casually that he enjoys doing it, usually. The trigger mechanism is unique and effective, yet is relatively simple in structure. The general design preferred is that employing rectangular lines, with the material of which it is made, either stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic, all in bright finishes.

The housing is intended to be located on some convenient surface or object, and provided with means to hold it in place. In the drawings, vacuum cups 33 are mounted on the under surface, of the housing to provide a quickly installed arrangement for the purpose.

While but one general form of the invention is shown 2' in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A straw dispenser, comprising, a housing including a doorway and a compartment formed with converging walls to form a self-feeding magazine with an opening at its lowest portion for ejecting straws in predetermined numbers at a time, a sliding carriage including a slot to hold a straw disposed under said magazine and alignable with said opening to receive the ejected straws singly within said slot at one end of its stroke and to carry the straw to another point of said stroke to discharge it, said housing including another compartment beneath said magazine, a chute structure with walls supported within said last mentioned compartment hinged to swing through a predetermined arc with its lower portion aligned with said doorway so as to bring said straw sliding down said chute thereto, said doorway being sized to permit the insertion of a container top therethrough for contacting said chute and pushing it through the swing thereof, trigger mechanism supported by said housing operated by the swing of said chute for reciprocating said carriage and aligning its pocket consecutively with said opening and discharge point and delivering said straw as aforesaid, said trigger mechanism including a resilient means for tensioning its components and said chute for returning said carriage to the beginning ofits stroke when said container is withdrawn out of said doorway, means for controlling the position of said carriage and chute when they are positioned for the reception and discharge of each straw to be delivered to said container, said housing including a lid for covering said magazine and means for attaching said housing to a predetermined surface, said chute being located below and having walls disposed approximately at right angles to the converging walls of said magazine, and means supported in said chute for facilitating the movement of the discharging straw into said chute to said doorway, the converging walls of said magazine being arranged to hold the straws horizontally therein while awaiting their delivery to said pocket and the walls of said chute being terminated in a valley downwardly slanted from said discharge and out to said doorway to position the straw at an angle as it slides into said bottle, said chute adjacent said doorway including a spoon like surface adapted to receive the top of said bottle during its use as a propellant and align its mouth so the entrance of the straw therein will not be obstructed, said turning means for the straw including a tripping lug for temporarily restricting the movement of one end of the straw.

2. A straw dispenser, comprising, a housing including a doorway and a compartment formed with converging walls to form a self-feeding magazine with an opening at its lowest portion for ejecting straws in predetermined numbers at a time, a sliding carriage including a slot to hold a straw disposed under said magazine and alignable with said opening to receive the ejected straws singly within said slot at one end of its stroke and to carry the straw to another point of said stroke to discharge it, said housing including another compartment beneath said magazine, a chute structure with walls supported within said last mentioned compartment hinged to swing through a predetermined arc with its lower portion aligned with said doorway so as to bring the strawsliding down said chute thereto, said doorway being sized to permit the insertion of a container top therethrough for contacting said chute and pushing it through the swing thereof, trigger mechanism supported by said housing and operated by the swing of said chute for reciprocating said carriage and aligning its pocket, consecutively with the opening and discharge point and delivering the straw as aforesaid, said trigger mechanism including a resilient means for tensioning its components and said chute for returning said carriage to the beginning of its stroke when said container is withdrawn out of said doorway, means for controlling the position of said carriage and chute when they are positioned for the reception and discharge of each straw to be delivered to said container, said housing including a lid for covering said magazine and means for attaching said housing to a predetermined surface, said chute being located below and having its walls disposed approximately at right angles to the converging walls of said magazine, means supported in said chute for facilitating the movement of the discharging straw into said chute to said doorway, the converging walls of said magazine being arranged to hold the straws horizontally therein while awaiting their delivery to said pocket and said walls of said chute being terminated in a valley downwardly slanted from said discharge and out to said doorway to position the straw at an angle as it slides into said bottle, sad chute adjacent the doorway including a spoonlike surface adapted to receive the top of said bottle during its use as a propellant and align its mouth so the entrance of the straw therein will not be obstructed, said turning means for the straw including a tripping lug for temporarily restricting the movement of one end of the straw, said trigger mechanism including a shaft with a pusher arm projected radially to engage a slot in said carriage to he propelled thereby, a hook arm for said resilient means to fasten on to and tension, an adjustable limit means for contacting a portion of said chute and limiting its travel of said carriage and the rotation of said shaft, and a cam means fastened to said chute structure, all working together to dispense said straws as aforesaid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,994 Odell Ian. 16, 1917 1,503,277 Mulford July 29, 1924 2,044,998 Smith June 23, 1936 2,188,304 Surdenik Jan. 30, 1940 2,195,177 Kucharsky Mar. 26, 1940 

